When Love Was Nifty
for club members in Philly
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© 2016 — Kenneth Lelen — Al Rights Reserved
for club members in Philly
_________________________________________
© 2016 — Kenneth Lelen — Al Rights Reserved
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| Photos: Tony Kazlouski Ken Lelen performs When Love Was Nifty concert for the Lincoln Cultural Association |
Lincoln Cultural Association, a 47-year-old club of mobile retirees and frequent travelers, hosted a mid-day concert with the theme When Love Was Nifty.
Performed by vintage guitarist and vocalist Ken Lelen, the event was held Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Northeast Philadelphia.
The musician sang a dozen love songs that were hits from 1945 to 1954 — the decade before Elvis and his rowdy friends hit the popular music scene. He paired each song with a vintage guitar for an authentic, back-in-the-day sound.
The songs he performed were hits for such vocalists as Jo Stafford, DeCastro Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Rosemary Clooney and Patti Page. Back in the day these and other artists produced hit records just as popular music tastes were changing to reflect fewer romantic ideas of WWII-era adults and more youthful passions of the post-WWII generation.
Performed by vintage guitarist and vocalist Ken Lelen, the event was held Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at Bethesda Presbyterian Church in Northeast Philadelphia.
The musician sang a dozen love songs that were hits from 1945 to 1954 — the decade before Elvis and his rowdy friends hit the popular music scene. He paired each song with a vintage guitar for an authentic, back-in-the-day sound.
The songs he performed were hits for such vocalists as Jo Stafford, DeCastro Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Nat King Cole, Rosemary Clooney and Patti Page. Back in the day these and other artists produced hit records just as popular music tastes were changing to reflect fewer romantic ideas of WWII-era adults and more youthful passions of the post-WWII generation.
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Dutch Frock runs business
meeting of Lincoln
Cultural
Association
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Socializing, business meeting and concert
Founded in 1968 as a travel club by and for retired teachers from Philadelphia's Lincoln High School, the Lincoln Cultural Association numbered nearly 150 people at one point. Today, it has more than 75 dues-paying members who meet to
socialize, conduct club business, share the advernture of traveling across the U.S. and around the world, and plan upcoming trips.
At this month's meeting club members enjoyed an hour-long concert, which included these songs:
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 — This chestnut was written in 1946 by WWII army veteran Bobby Troup as he motored from Chicago to Los Angeles on his honeymoon. The song’s first hit recording was made by Nat King Cole. Chuck Berry had a hit in 1961 and the Rolling Stones in 1964.
Beyond The Sea — This lilting French tune gained English lyrics in 1946 and became a hit for Benny Goodman’s band in 1948 and vocalist Andy Williams in 1955. Bobby Darin had a giant hit with his memorable version of the song in 1959.
Till There Was You — Written in 1950, this Meredith Willson song was sung in 1957 by Barbara Cooke, who played the first Marian Paroo, librarian and love interest, in the hit Broadway play The Music Man.
Fly Me To The Moon — Written by Bart Howard in 1954 as a cabaret ballad in waltz time, the song’s popularity increased after Peggy Lee’s jazzed-up version in 1960, Joe Harnell’s bossa nova version in 1962 and Frank Sinatra’s straight four/four swinger in 1964.
Time After Time — Written in 1947 by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn, it was sung by Frank Sinatra in the film It Happened In Brooklyn. In 2009 Margaret Whiting’s rendition was heard in the film Julie & Julia.
Teach Me Tonight — Written in 1953, this Gene DePaul (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) song charted at #2 for the DeCastro Sisters (Peggy, Cherie and Babette) in 1955. In 1984 Cahn wrote a special verse just for Frank Sinatra in tribute to Frank’s many love affairs.
At this month's meeting club members enjoyed an hour-long concert, which included these songs:
(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 — This chestnut was written in 1946 by WWII army veteran Bobby Troup as he motored from Chicago to Los Angeles on his honeymoon. The song’s first hit recording was made by Nat King Cole. Chuck Berry had a hit in 1961 and the Rolling Stones in 1964.
Beyond The Sea — This lilting French tune gained English lyrics in 1946 and became a hit for Benny Goodman’s band in 1948 and vocalist Andy Williams in 1955. Bobby Darin had a giant hit with his memorable version of the song in 1959.
Till There Was You — Written in 1950, this Meredith Willson song was sung in 1957 by Barbara Cooke, who played the first Marian Paroo, librarian and love interest, in the hit Broadway play The Music Man.
Fly Me To The Moon — Written by Bart Howard in 1954 as a cabaret ballad in waltz time, the song’s popularity increased after Peggy Lee’s jazzed-up version in 1960, Joe Harnell’s bossa nova version in 1962 and Frank Sinatra’s straight four/four swinger in 1964.
Time After Time — Written in 1947 by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn, it was sung by Frank Sinatra in the film It Happened In Brooklyn. In 2009 Margaret Whiting’s rendition was heard in the film Julie & Julia.
Teach Me Tonight — Written in 1953, this Gene DePaul (music) and Sammy Cahn (lyrics) song charted at #2 for the DeCastro Sisters (Peggy, Cherie and Babette) in 1955. In 1984 Cahn wrote a special verse just for Frank Sinatra in tribute to Frank’s many love affairs.
Vintage guitar tones
Lelen played the following
vintage acoustic guitars at the Lincoln event:
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| Ken Lelen and 1938 B&D Groton 1 guitar |
1938
B&D Groton 1 — auditorium-sized guitar with mahogany back and sides and ladder-braced spruce top in dark sunburst finish made by Regal Instrument Co. of Chicago for Bacon Banjo Co. of Groton CT (original price: $15);
1931 MarvelTone — mahogany grand concert guitar in natural finish with fancy pearl inlays on headstock and fingerboard, also by Regal (original price: $28);
1931 MarvelTone — mahogany grand concert guitar in natural finish with fancy pearl inlays on headstock and fingerboard, also by Regal (original price: $28);
1932 MarvelTone — rosewood grand concert guitar in natural finish with fancy pearl inlays on headstock and fingerboard, also by Regal (original price: $50);
1933 Style #840 — rare, auditorium-sized guitar with mahogany body and X-braced spruce top in natural finish, made by Weymann & Sons of Philadelphia (original price: $45).
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© 2016 — Kenneth Lelen — All Rights Reserved
